Kent council authorizes 3-year AFSCME contract through 2028

The Kent City Council voted 6-0 on Aug. 4 to authorize Mayor Dana Ralph to sign a three-year collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME Local 2617 covering city employees, effective Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2028.

"After many months of negotiations, the city and the union have come to a mutually agreed, agreement, and, it benefits our city, community on," HR Director Carrie Endicott said as she asked the council for authorization. Council President Coore moved to authorize the mayor to sign the contract; the motion was seconded and approved by a unanimous voice vote.

Council returned to open session at 5:23 p.m. after a brief closed session described in the meeting as pertaining to collective bargaining under the cited RCW provision. Endicott said the agreement covers city employees throughout the organization; the text of the contract and specific economic terms were included in the council packet, according to Endicott's presentation. The council took formal action immediately after the presentation.

The authorization directs the mayor to execute the contract; council members did not request substantive amendments on the floor. The meeting record shows the motion passed 6-0. The council did not debate or vote on individual salary line items during the public meeting; the presentation materials in the packet were referenced by Endicott.

Next steps: the mayor is authorized to sign the agreement and the city will proceed with the implementation steps described by HR in the packet.